Transparency mount



y 26, 4 J. N. WILLIAMS 2,477,470

TRANSPARENCY MOUNT Filed March 5, 1948 INVENTOR Patented July 26, 1949UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,477,411 y i TRANSPARENCY MOUNT JohnNelson Williams, New York, N. Y. Application March 5, 1948, Serial No.13,299

1 1 l The present invention relates toa mount for hOldil'lgtransparencies for viewing or for use in still projectors.

"' It has been the previous practice to mount transparencies, whichareusually in the form of thin and flexible photographic films, in mountsmade of a variety of materialssuch as cardboard, metal, plastic or glassall of which are fabricated by differing processes and all of whichpresent disadvantages which it is the object of this invention toovercome.

Cardboard mounts suffer from the inherent disadvantage of their materialin that they become easily bent and the picture aperture edges becomefrayed. Metal mounts are more durable but tend to have sharp edges, torequire expensive' rnanufacturing procedures or to present an unpleasantirregular outer surface. The chief disadvantageof glass mounts is theirliability of breakage, thus ruining the film. In addition many of thesevarious mounts used in previous practice have had the disadvantages ofbeing too heavy, too thick in section, too expensive to manufacture fordistribution at a low price, require the mount by the user, and hold thefilm too securely in position in the mount so that the film when heatedby the projector has no possibility of expanding in the plane of thefilm but instead tends to curl or buckle thus throwin the image'outoffocus. F 1 Transparency mounts made of thermoplastic materialovercome many of the disadvantages just cited. However, mounts of thistype used in previous practice have either presented ex pensivelaminating or-other manufacturin assembly problems or required heat andpressure to be applied for the final mounting operation or required twoseparate molded parts for the mount or held the film too firmly andsecurely in position in the mount, allowing no room for expansion whenheated. j

Therefore, one object of the present invention is the provision of atransparency mount made of two parts, the frame portion being" formed ofmolded plastic and a sliding insert portion being provided which isdie-cut 'or stamped from sheet material, preferably plastic sheet; themount composed of these two simple parts requiring no further intricateassembly operations either in the manufacturing process or in the finalmounting of thefilm transparency in the film mount by the user. I i

1 Another object isto provide a mount of the type set forth in which thefilm transparency tedious assembly of the film in i 4 Claims. (01.40-158) mounted in the mount and will be held securely therein whilestill having ample room forexpansion in the plane of the film whenheated, and in which the film transparency can be instantly unmounted atwill, allowing another transparency film to be instantly mounted in themount if so desired.

Another object is to provide a mount of the type set forth which takesadvantage of the characteristics of molded and stamped or "diecutmaterials, especially plastic materials, to be rapidly and inexpensivelyfabricated, the finished articles requiring no further processing andpresenting a smooth finished appearance, being durable, rigid and lightin weight. Another object is to provide a mount of the type set forth inwhich the molded frame and stampedor die-cut insert may be made ofmaterials available in a large variety of colors, thus adding a pleasingappearance to the finished mount. i Another object is to provide a mountof the type set forth which takes advantage of the characteristic ofsuitable sheet material, preferably plastic sheet, of remainingperfectly flat when no'force is applied to it, but whose flexibilityallows it to be easily bent when desired, this flexibility being used inthe present invention during the process of mounting a film transparencyin the mount, or of removing said transparency from the mount.

Another object is to provide a mount of the type set forth consisting ofa molded thermoplastic frame portion and including an irreg ularlyshaped recess in the front face thereof, part of said recess being inthe form of four corners disposed to receive and position the fourcorners of the film transparency, the remaining portion of theirregularly shaped recess being designed to provide four under-cutgrooves (each groove running parallel to each sideof the frame) intowhich a properly shaped insert made of sheet material is slidden untilit is securely engaged in three of the grooves, the protruding end ofsaid=insert then being bowed and the edge bent downward to slide intothe fourth groove thus holding the transparency securely in position inthe mount.

" Further and other objects of the present invention will be hereinafterset forth in the accompanying specification and claims and shown in thedrawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention andthe principle thereof. Other embodiments of the invention employing thesame or equivalent principle may can be instantly be used and structuralchanges made by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and within the spirit of the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the molded thermoplastic frameportion of the mount, show in the irregularly shaped recess with thefour film-positioning corners and the four under-cut grooves; A

Fig. 2 is"- an elevatibnal Viewof the insert portion of the mount, whichis symmetrical about its vertical center-line and is stamped ordie-cuifrom suitable sheet material, preferabty plastic sheet. I

Fig. 3 is a partial elevationaliiiew spewingalternate form in which theinsertportiontot the frame shown in Fig. 2 may be cut, the variantsconsisting solely of the elimination of the fear extending right-anglecorners [8 of theinsert as shown in Fig.- 2; thus permanently exposingthe four corners or the'fi'lm: transparency when-com pletely assembledin-the mount. In. allother respects: t-he insert l-Iaas shown partiallyin Fig. 3 is identical: with: the insert Hv asshown in Fig. 2.

Eig. 4 is a front elevational-view of a-completely assembled mountconstructed in: accordance with the present-invention; showingatransparency in positionwithinthe mount.

Fig-.--5 is. an; end el-evationa-l View of the assembled mount shown inFig.1 band is also a typical View of all= four end views: of the mount.

6 is arear elevational. bledmoun-tshownin Figs. tand 5. g V

Fig. 7 is a front; perspective view of a partially assembled mount, withthe film transparency set in position in: the; frame portion of the.mount and the insert-portion of the mount being-shown midway-in. the actof sliding into the under-cut grooves of said frame portion: the.assembly of the mount being completed when the insert is sl-iddenfarther from right to left; as shown until it securel y engages theunder cut groove on; the

left side of' theframe,- the final assemblyoperae tion being shownin-s s8, which is an enlarged sectional View of the; assembled mount as shownin Fig. 4;. and which; shows the manner in which the; right=hanzd side.-of. the. irisert is howedand the. edge bent downward until it slidesinto the under-cut groove on the right side of! the frame,-. thus com--pleting the mount; assem-bly. 7,

Fig, 9 is an enlargedv sectional view of the as sembled mount as shownin; 3; illustrating how the moiimt may be disassembled. by theapplication of a. slight upward force at the point shown by the arrow;which slight force may be applied by the finger or by an object; thusdisengaging the right-hand: end ofthe insert from the correspondinggroove of the; frame and allowing said. insert to be quickly slidout ofthe frame frornleft to right. g

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout thedrawing.

Referring now to the drawing; the present invention of a transparencymount consists! of two pieces, a thermoplastic frame I 0' and' an.insert I I":

The plastic frame portion iii of the mount may bemadeby any one ofvarious melding operations; such as; injection molding, compressionmolding, transf er molding. etc and the thermoplastic material of whichthe. frameis made may which. satisfactorily with ich such a mountisliable any well-known type of. still view of the assema- I projector,and a material whose temperature and V slide shrinkage characteristicsare satisfactory when subjected to such heat.

The frame I 0 is molded in one piece and the design of the frame is suchthat four grooves, I2, 13 and M, which are right-angular in section andparalleling each outside edge of the frame, are provided by this onemolding, such grooves making it possible to slidably engage the insert Hin thdf raiheto fo'fri'a a secure mo'untiassemhly. The manner whichthese four grooves are provided in the design of the one-piece moldedframe is one of the unique and novel features of the presentinvention.These four grooves, the two side grooves fZ and I3 and the top andbottom grooves l d} consistoi arr-over-hanging section 22, 23 and 21respectively and a cut-out portion l2, l3 and r4" respectn'uy; The outerwall of the two cutflush with the corresponding of the recess? set inthe frame II], to allow insert I I, to smoothly slide: into thegroovesthusformed. M V

The four corners I5 of the recessrset inframe lp proyide a. positioningseat for: the transparency film; this. usage being shown clearly:-

Figs; 4 and 7. Ilhese right angle corners are spaced a dis.- tanceapartlto conformto: the rectangular outer shape of a film: transparencw;which in the present. instance is a strip oii 35 mm. photographic film,vbutsaid corners-araspaced.aslightly greater distance apart than thedimensions; of the fihrr The-remainingwalls of this irregular recess;set

in frame In areformed of angles. inthe. instance shown angles otapproximately 45% These aniiigir'isert (i each have a. bei elecledgesbeing, provided so that the insert H more easily groe res' r1 41 thanould; be; the be. no. edges. no 2 provided 7 Except for the four groovedportion= set along each side. of frame-t0 the irregular recess. set insaiurrane is offa; uniform depth; forming, a flat andt'hin section ofsaidv nam the: rear face of said thin recessed; section beiijigPerfectly flush face of. the whole. frame This thin. and. fiat sectitn;which forms the base of the; irregular recess a, picture aperture iscentrally located herein said; picture aperture? being ofzja size andshapelto frame the picture area of the film tralrrs= parency 20 when thelatter iaseated in the recess.

edges ofthe frame; thus giving a finished and pleasing appearance to themount.

The insert portion '1"? of the transparency fireman opaquezs'heet I A,thatthe-materiali of which the-insert wismade" have a certain: amount ofinherent rigidity, yet be flexibleenough to: allow it to 1 he how ed andbent downward to slide into the groove on the riehtehand sideyof theframe mnmmo 119 emedt :assemblywf rthe ztwo Qparts iof sthe mount.insert vl'l rmayhe madet'fmmzamylopaqne material meeting ethesespecifications, :snch wasza good grade: of :hoated tor vimm'egnatedeeardboand or sheet metal rso ifiexibilityirmmfiinedwithzinhei'enmigidity. While whematertalsijust citedFITlBiYEbGZUSGdIfOI'dHSBFb H withoutdeparting-:imany :wsynmmithessmperoof theipresentzinvention, the Fprefelredflmtflniahfflr ="the msertiinthis .linstance istamped 01 @dieeout ."lnser t will berreferreditoiinathis instancaas being cutefrom suoh plastic-.sheetnmaterial. Whatevermfaterial u's 111Sed lfimth'ewirisert, itJmUStFbC QpaQMB. This insert Hhas outside dimensi'onsywhich apsproximate the "dimensions of .thetrecess Inset in frame w, -such recess=formedshy thetfour-tcorners M5,the tfour angular walls:- of the recess and the outerssurf ace ofztheecutwut Eportions 4:2, (I 3 and 1M, hutthe -are-sl-ightly lessth'anthe'dimensionsofssaidstr ame MI'QCQSSWHI order (to allow said ainsertlto beeasily slidden into the reeessmf frame All tor assembly "of themount. :Insert thiashaped to hesymmetriteal about its iverticalcenter-line, and since frontsand rear \faee-are identical, either t faceof the insert may be placed euppermost preparatory ton-inserting-it-into the frame, therefore either t the-right-handior left-hand edgeof the insert "as shown may a be i .used as sliding it into frame- I41forassembly of thetmount. PI his'inSer-t Ell is provided with a pictureaperture =48 which adapted .to frame the picture area of thfilmttransparency 2.0 and whih aperture 18 willregi-ster withflthepicture aperture [6 of theLframe- I U when the insert is assembledfinsaid framefO-to form theiassemhledmount. The correct horizontal.position of thefinse'rt 'for slid- )ing! it into the frame .is visuallyapparent, since aperture ll; of theinsert must register with-aper- "tureT6 dfthe frame.

In order that the transparency mount may be easilytiassemhled, theproner'pr'oportions must'he maintained inthe thickness of "thevarioussle ments of the-frame portion dfthemountffintre- .lationtothecombinedthikness ofthe insert ll and'the'tr'ansparency'fi1rn20. Toaccomplishthis, the dimension'between theundenface (or rear iface)ofbver-hangin sectio'ns"22,23 andiZl the front or-sdrfacefacelo fftheflatthinned section "forming "the recess "in the 'frame must the"slightly'greaterthan the combined thickness of insert ll"andfilm'transparen'cy 20. "Thusthie *transparenoy film. is held*flrnilyeind securely be- 'tween therecess in theframe .and theinsertfye't hasfreedom for normal expansionin' the plane'of fthe film"when subjected 'to "heat as encountered ina film projectingmachine forstilrpiotures. :An additional feature of theip'resent invention "whichallows 'for natural "expansion "of the filmtwhen '=subjectedto'heat isprovided by placementdf the grooves I2,l"-3"and l4'nearthe 'four'outeredges-of the fraine I 0; sotha't when insert! I is'engagedin these 'fourgrooves any :compressive force' resulting from the "engagement o'fthes'e'twofpairts "of the *rnount is exerted outwardly fromthefour edges 6fthe transparency film, and only suffieient com-"bressiveforcedstransmitted to'the' filmtdhold it flatand securewithout-any bindingaetion. "Placingr'if *the grooves 'in the edges "of"said flame "also allow "the frame tofbe 'li'hterdn 'weightrby providing.a'. greater recessed area: in said frame'than has been providedibypreviouspractice.

mouiit'is assembled by treated me to have the .proper routsidedimensions (of :the .-insert H 5;

the -entering edge vwhen "frame near"the outer :10 ffhrom ts'heetlplasliic nf v-therrightxrigidity, andlthe t fitnansna'rency Mainithe'lframe =l-ll, the comers-5M the tnampareney :iilm" :resting inworners l5 lot the z-trame. :Insert rl =l iis thenwslidden .w'fromrightdo ll'eft into athe recessed area :nf irameelll until itrengages groovesM 'andi-is =thenig uided sin r-s-liding :action until lithe left-rhand 1edge ,:of :the insertreng'aeesigroove .112, ratrwhicih mointztheislide:ing movement :of :the :insert is conrxpleited. New lithe rrem-ainin'g*cr-ighte'hand edge of the insert still :dree, to :hni'sh the mountingioperation this edee is who-wed and bent downward to :slide plating-tthe amount assembly. This final superartien \Uf :hending and sliding theremaining iedge so? the :insert 'i-ntozgroove l3 sis made 'veryeasy andsimple because the sarea-sof the over-hung section 212 3 of groove 13which engages ?the Hedge f ithe iiBSGIZt'iiS yer-y ismall, {just:enough' to prevent ac'cisdental-zdisengagement, :but small enoughitoimake aior zease and rapidity :of engagement and adiezengagement aof:the :insert edge into thesgroeve. ifllhetazreas (of the over-hungLsectionszi'l lands whidhcengage "the rather three edges of itheflinserttsarezamuchl greater than this minimum aover-hung carea rprDvided any-23 'ifor the engagement -ofwth'e :ninsert.

:lIhe illustration in Fig. 526 Fshowscthe rear taee oft thelassemhl'edImount andx indicates the manner in which grooves il2,x:l3'rand l"4are-so de- Isl-erred asito tbemolded li'n the one unit of hame no. This.tiew "shows ;in particular the "precise -aspect.-:of the'se egroovesasiseen 'fr'om the rear, andashowsizthe-small-areas ofithe reariface ditinssert'll :Whiehare visible within the 0ut1in=eo'f each groove, andthe manneriin which the insert tedges almost :o'ompletel'y "cover theunder side of roverhung sectiensfl I, 22 and :23 ef fra'me l t, exceptin the small section of the-insert-whieh is broken away to betterillustrate the construction eof this :part. This rear face of ithem'ount =i's *perneatly iflat land-smooth except ffor the areas of thefour grooves and the :picture aperture fli through the p'icture area offilm trans-- parenc y ifl may be seen.

One=of=ithe greatest difficulties tobe overcome in amount of the typepresented in "thi's invention is Clearly shown -ini Fig. When theiinsertIl is securely assembled into the frame ldto 'form the completelyassembledmount,ysmallpinp'oint' openings "are visibl'e at the extreme"edge df "each groove, these pih points representingthe juncture oftheedges "of thetinsert'witn thabutermost, edges "(if "the ;open ,slits"visible in Fig. [1, whichare "mandatory in the design jo'f the frameinfo'rderto achieve grooved construction inta "single unit molding.These small "pinepoin't :opening's are'jshowniin'Fig.ebyfz'dfizfi,ifitandizl. However, the mount whihfis presented in the,present invention hverepmes this difiiculty Spy the 'Tfaet lthat theseeight "points 24; 25,, '26 and!!! at which ,p'infpoints (of .light mightshow/in projec- "tionaretallrnlacedso near thei four outsideeedges ofthe --frame All that the slide ,holder mechw nism-in any of :thestandard: still lprojectors sfOl transparency ofothis :type will(completely .cover these .pinTpoint-ho'les, :so that the ,t-presentmount will be v-feompletelyopaquelwhens-the is projected. :IfvthBSBsmall plnepoint holes were tnotyplaced so-fareoutvvardtintheirame,showever, =-if they had instead rbeen placed.near-er the pic- $111 6 aperture naming-athertransparency;film;zthenwin-all likelihoodlthey would showiwhenlprojeotedthrough-astandardsstilltprojector.

placing the 'Tfllm 7 eIt\willlberreadilyeapparent \fromithe -.-oz:egoingi description of the assemblyof the present mount Ithat this wholeprocess of mounting a film transparency permanently within the mountisaccomplished quickly, in a few seconds of time. Likewise, the process ofunmounting a transpariency from a completely assembled mount-may beaccomplished just as quickly. While the trans- :parency isassembled inthe mount, however, it is held securely and permanently therein with nopossibility of accidental displacement or diseng'agement from theassembled mount. No special 'skill is required of the person performingthese -mounting and unmounting operations, no special equipment. forthese operations is necessary, and no glueing, taping or other tedioussteps in the .assembly of the film mount are required.

In addition, the present mount is designed to 'be manufactured in largequantities at low cost -,since no assembly operations are required inthe -manufacturing process. The .procedures are automatic, requiring amold for vrapid fabrication of the molded plastic frame l0, ::and a dieor other cutting tool for the rapid cutting of insert II from standardsheet material.

:The present mount thus produced by these two automatic operations islight in weight, presents a smooth and. pleasing appearance, is moredurable than most mounts used in previous practice andis ready forinstant use.

. ,Although I have shown and described certain ,specific embodiments of;the invention, I am fully manufacturing ,aware that many modificationsthereof are 1305- 1 .sible. My invention, therefore, is not to berestricted except insofar as is necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

j vHaving thus described my invention what I claim and'desire to besecured by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

l. A transparency mount consisting of a frame .molded of thermoplasticmaterial and an insert which is made from a sheet material, the framecontaining an irregularly shaped recess which provides the means to seatand position a transparency film therein, the depth of said recess beingsuch as to seat said transparency film and to allow additional room forthe insert portion of theframe to slidably engage four groovedconstructions. integrally molded in said-frame, each fo'f said'groovedconstructions being set in from and running parallel 'a'ndeachgroovebeing so formed as to have an over-hung section whose uppermost face. isflush with the face of said frame, the remainder of each groovedconstruction being in the form of a slot which opens on the rear face ofsaid frame, the outer side wall of each slot abutting the wall of theaforementioned recess and the inner side wall of each slot formingthecut edge of the recess, so that the front elevational view of theflframewill show each grooved construction as having a slit whose edges areformed by the cut edge of said recess and the outer edge of theover-hung section of said grooved construction,

said frame portion and said insert portion of the mount also being eachprovided with a centrally-located picture aperture which both coin-"cide in superposed relation in the assembled mount and jointly framethe picture area of the film transparency mounted therein. 7

2. As an article of manufacture, a mount for film transparenciescomprising a frame molded of thermoplastic material, the front face ofsaid frame being provided with an irregularly shaped to each side ofsaid frame recess, part of said recess being'so' shaped as'to 'receiveand position a film transparency and the the front elevational view edgeof said insert 7 locking engagement with said fourth groove, all ,fourgrooves being placed so near the frame, the other part of the'mountconsisting of a separate insert which is stamped or die-cut "from sheetmaterial and is so shaped as to set snugly in said irregular recess ofthe frame when assembled, the aforementioned four grooves of the framebeingv so formed as to allowsaid insert to slidably engage three of saidgrooves and to engage the fourth groove by. being bowed and bentdownward thereby sliding into said fourth groove, the irregular recessand four grooves of the frame being provided in the single molded unitofsaid frame.

3. As an article of manufacture, a frame for a transparency mount ofsubstantially rectangular shape molded of thermoplastic material, oneface of said frame provided with an irregularly shaped recess and partof said recess being so formed as to receive and position a filmtransparency therein, the rear face of said recessbeing provided with anaperture centrally located in the frame and extending through to saidrecess and of a size and shape to frame the picture area of thetransparency film which is to be seated-in said recess, other parts ofsaid recess connecting with four grooved constructions molded in saidframe, each of said grooved constructions being set in from and runningparallel to each side of said frame and eachgroove being so formed as tohave an over-hung section whose uppermost face is flush with the face ofsaid frameQthe remainder of each grooved construction being in the formof a slot which opens onthe rear face of said frame, the outer side wallof each slot abutting the wall of the aforementioned recess and theinner side wall of each slot forming the cut edge of the recess, so thatof the frame will show each grooved construction as having a slit whoseedges are formed by the out edge of said recess andthe outer edge of theover-hung section of said grooved construction; 1

4. A transparencymount consisting of a frame molded of thermoplasticmaterial and an insert which is made from a sheetmaterial whosecharacteristics enable it to lie perfectly fiat in an inert state andyet be flexible enough to be bent when desired, the said framecontaining an irregularly shaped'reoess which provides means to'seat andposition a transparency film therein and said frame also containing fourintegrally molded grooves, each groove set in from and running parallelto each side of said frame, three of the .grooves being designed toallow the insert portion of the mount to .with said grooves, and thefourth groove providing means for the slide, into secure engagementfinal assembly of said mount bowing the remaining free and sliding itdownward into by' the process of outer edges of the frame that when theyare engaged with the insert portion to form the assembled mount anypin-point holes visible in the assembled 'still projectors, because theslide holder mechanism of said projectors will completely cover those.areas of the mount in which said pin-point openings are located, theaforementioned frame poraperture which both coincide in superposedrelation in the assembled mount and jointly frame file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS the picture area of the film transparency mountedNumber Name Date therein 1 414,174 Segall Nov 13 1923 JOHN NELSONWILUAMS- 5 1,547,120 Hamilton July 21, 1925 2,166,641 Perera et a1. July18, 1939 1 REFERENCES CITED 2,292,312 Wittel et a1. Aug. 4, 1942 Thefollowing references are of record in the 2,362,434 Fitch et a1. Nov. 7,1944

